Flower development: the evolutionary history and functions of the AGL6 subfamily MADS-box genes

Ludovico Dreni; Dabing Zhang

doi:10.1093/jxb/erw046

Flower development: the evolutionary history and functions of the AGL6 subfamily MADS-box genes

J Exp Bot. 2016 Mar;67(6):1625-38. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erw046.

Authors

Ludovico Dreni¹, Dabing Zhang²

Affiliations

¹ Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU)-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China ludovico.dreni@sjtu.edu.cn.
² Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU)-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China School of Agriculture, Food, and Wine, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5064, Australia.

PMID: 26956504
DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw046

Abstract

AGL6 is an ancient subfamily of MADS-box genes found in both gymnosperms and angiosperms. Its functions remained elusive despite the fact that the MADS-box genes and the ABC model have been studied for >20 years. Nevertheless, recent discoveries in petunia, rice, and maize support its involvement in the 'E' function of floral development, very similar to the closely related AGL2 (SEPALLATA) subfamily which has been well characterized. The known functions of AGL6 span from ancient conserved roles to new functions acquired in specific plant families. The AGL6 genes are involved in floral meristem regulation, in floral organs, and ovule (integument) and seed development, and have possible roles in both male and female germline and gametophyte development. In grasses, they are also important for the development of the first whorl of the flower, whereas in Arabidopsis they may play additional roles before floral meristem formation. This review covers these recent insights and some other aspects that are not yet fully elucidated, which deserve more studies in the future.

Keywords: .; ABC model; AGL2; AGL6; Arabidopsis; E function; MADS-box genes; floral organ development; lodicule; ovule; palea; petunia; rice.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Evolution, Molecular*
Flowers / embryology*
Flowers / genetics*
Genes, Plant*
MADS Domain Proteins / genetics*
Magnoliopsida / genetics
Multigene Family*

Substances

MADS Domain Proteins